The Probation Service managed 17,686 offenders in the community during its latest reporting period, representing a 3% increase on the prior year, according to its annual report.

Referrals from courts across the country rose by 8% to 10,497, with males accounting for 81% of all court referrals and females making up 19%. In addition to community supervision, probation officers engaged with 3,785 individuals in prison, up from 3,521 in the previous period.

Theft remained the primary offence leading to probation referrals, followed by assault and drug-related offences. The service completed 13,864 reports during the year—a 4% increase—which comprised 11,760 probation assessment reports and 1,892 community service assessment reports.

Supervision orders made by courts increased from 8,190 to 8,680 during the year. The report also highlights that the number of individuals convicted of a sexual offence who were supervised in the community rose from 622 to 709. The 1,734 community service orders managed by the service provided 223,259 hours of unpaid work in lieu of 898 years in prison, delivering an estimated €3 million worth of work for local communities.

Probation Service Acting Director Una Doyle noted that overall staff numbers reached 522 by the end of the year after 72 new recruits joined the organisation. This total includes 51 probation assistants, a role introduced in 2023 as part of an initiative to increase operational capacity and efficiency across the justice system.